PLANS to charge commuters using a Belper car park have been welcomed by shoppers.
The Coppice car park, off the market place in the town, has been found to be used heavily by people heading into Derby from the town's train station.
Councillor Alan Cox conducted his own survey and discovered that 80% of the cars were staying there throughout the day.
He said: "I went down with my camera, took photos at 11am and then went back at 2.30pm and found that around 80% of the cars were still there.
"What I have suggested now is that there is a three-hour free period on the paved area of the car park.
"If people wish to park for longer then they will have to pay or they can move to the end of the car park which has not been paved."
The car park was resurfaced in 2005 with money from the Township Heritage Initiative.
Mr Cox said: "The whole point of the work on the car park was to make it better for shoppers and shopkeepers. It was not to make it better for commuters.
"You are in the situation now where you have young mums with shopping and buggies having to work the full length of the car park because the spaces close to the shops are taken up by commuters' cars.
"Three hours should be more than enough for people to do their shopping.
"People would be given a ticket that would entitle them to free parking for three hours and any longer would have to be paid for."
Currently the proposals are moving through the town council, with the clerk inquiring about the price for a ticket machine along with other costs such as training to collect money.
Mr Cox said: "There is a large car park near to the train station that charges and has capacity for more people. The charge for the Coppice will be slightly more than there, possibly moving people further down."
Rachel Armes, 40, of Spencer Road, Belper, said: "They do need to deter people from parking there and then getting the train into Derby.
"I think it would be good to have three to four hours' free parking and then charge for any longer – or maybe have some kind of parking permit for Belper residents."
Sandra Mee , 44, of Danesby Crescent, Denby, said: "I pop into Belper and the car park is always busy.
"I have heard that it is being used by commuters. It wouldn't be so bad if they were at the far end.
"I wouldn't mind paying if it was only a small amount but it would be better if it was still free."
